Running a test recovery / plan migration/reprotect fails with the error: There are not enough licenses installed to perform the operation

Products

• VMware Live Recovery

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Running a test recovery / plan migration /reprotect fails with the below error.
  
  There are not enough licenses installed to perform the operation.

• The licensing error is reported post SRM upgrade from 8.8 to 9.x.
  
  In vmware-dr.log, you will see the below events.

  2025-08-06T12:22:47.860Z error vmware-dr[05212] [SRM@6876 sub=Replication.VmRecoveryInterface ctxID=ef3b2662 opID=aacba5fe-d322-4d13-bd0d-2191a782d3a7-reprotect:8b67:ff81:75e5] Protection VM 'dr.replication.ProtectedVm:protected-vm-####' failed operation 'Reprotect'!  There are '0' warnings for this Protection Group.  Failure Reason: (dr.fault.InsufficientLicensesFault) {
  
  -->    faultCause = (vmodl.MethodFault) null, 
  
  -->    faultMessage = <unset>
  
  -->    msg = ""

Environment

VMware Live Site Recovery 9.0.2

Cause

For New Setup:
The issue occurred because a valid license was not assigned to the Site Recovery Manager (SRM) solution after the initial setup. The environment was running on an evaluation license, which does not support reprotect operations once it expires or becomes invalid.

For Upgrade Scenario:
The issue occurred because the existing SRM license was not retained after the upgrade. When upgrading across major versions (for example, from SRM 8.8.x to 9.0), SRM reverts to an evaluation license, and the previously assigned license is not carried forward automatically. As a result, a valid license must be manually re-applied after the upgrade.

Refer the below kb for more details.

SRM License key missing after upgrading from SRM 8.x to SRM 9.X

 

Resolution

To resolve this, ensure the key is assigned to the Site Recovery Manager solution in vCenter Server for protecting the virtual machines on both production and disaster recovery site.

To assign the key to the Site Recovery Manager:

1. In the vSphere Client, select Home > Administration > Licensing.
2. Click the Assets tab.
3. Click Solutions session.
4. Identify and select the SRM extension.
5. In the All-Actions Menu, select Assign License.
6. In the Assign License window, select an appropriate license key and click Next.
7. After applying the license, restart the srm-server service on the SRM appliance to ensure the license is properly recognized.

 

Note: If you are reprotecting your virtual machine, ensure that preceding steps are done for both Protected and Recovery vCenter Servers.